Get-PSCallStack

Get-PSCallStack

The Get-PSCallStack cmdlet displays the current call stack.

Although it is designed to be used with the Windows PowerShell debugger, you can use this cmdlet to display the call stack in a script or function outside of the debugger.

To run a Get-PSCallStack command while in the debugger, type k or Get-PSCallStack.

PS C:\> function My-Alias {
$p = $args[0]
Get-Alias | where {$_.Definition -like "*$p"} | Format-Table Definition, Name -Auto
}
PS C:\ps-test> Set-PSBreakpoint -Command My-Alias
Command    : My-Alias
Action     :
Enabled    : True
HitCount   : 0
Id         : 0
Script     : prompt PS C:\> My-Alias Get-Content

Entering debug mode. Use h or ? for help.
Hit Command breakpoint on 'prompt:My-Alias'
My-Alias Get-Content
[DBG]: PS C:\ps-test> s
$p = $args[0]
DEBUG: Stepped to ':    $p = $args[0]    '
[DBG]: PS C:\ps-test> s
Get-Alias | where {$_.Definition -like "*$p*"} | Format-Table Definition,
[DBG]: PS C:\ps-test>Get-PSCallStack

Name        CommandLineParameters         UnboundArguments              Location
----        ---------------------         ----------------              --------
prompt      {}                            {}                            prompt
My-Alias    {}                            {Get-Content}                 prompt
prompt      {}                            {}                            prompt

PS C:\> [DBG]: PS C:\ps-test> o
Definition  Name
----------  ----
Get-Content gc
Get-Content cat
Get-Content type

This command uses the Get-PSCallStack cmdlet to display the call stack for My-Alias, a simple function that gets the aliases for a cmdlet name.

The first command enters the function at the Windows PowerShell prompt. The second command uses the Set-PSBreakpoint cmdlet to set a breakpoint on the My-Alias function. The third command uses the My-Alias function to get all of the aliases in the current session for the Get-Content cmdlet.

The debugger breaks in at the function call. Two consecutive step-into (s) commands begin executing the function line by line. Then, a Get-PSCallStack command is used to retrieve the call stack.

The final command is a Step-Out command (o) that exits the debugger and continues executing the script to completion.

You can't pipe objects to this cmdlet.

This cmdlet returns an object representing the items in the call stack.

PowerShell includes the following aliases for Get-PSCallStack:

• All platforms:
  • gcs